Fight:Aftermath

=o00o=

Years before at Slayn

The broken bodies of Tal'Darim votaries scattered on the ragged land, yet one of them still defiantly faced their killers. The tall, proud Ascendant stared his victim.

"You were not worthy to be the victim of a Blood Hunter." He mocked the wounded Protoss. "I am proud to do great honor to our Highlord Mal'ash by culling the weakling among our ranks."

The weakened votary shouted defiantly."I…am…a Tal'Darim! Loyal servant of Amon! I won't going down quietly before bringing you down!" His answer had him blasted by the Ascendant. The warrior walked slowly, savoring his victim's life to ebb. To his disgust, he found him still alive. He quickly lifted the helpless Protoss to face him.

"Since you won't die quietly." He spoke with icy tone. "I would maim you for the example to others. Which part of your body should I take?" His fellow Tal'Darim didn't reply.

"I know! I would take…your eyes!" The Ascendant ignited his bane blade and slowly slashed to his victim's eyes. It was good that the Tal'Darim did not connected to the Khala, otherwise everyone would hear the painful, agonizing scream of the poor Protoss. Before the warrior finished his grim work, the so-called 'helpless' votary took a jagged stone from the back and slashed his jugular vein quickly. Shocked, the Ascendant tried to stop the bleeding wound. The victim quickly took his bane blade-wielding hand and thrust the blade through the flesh. Both Tal'Darim fell on the ground. The wounded Protoss couldn't see anything, but he could sense the gurgling Ascendant and the fading of his life. It wouldn't escape someone's notice.

"Good work! I thought Tharek would kill you. In the end, his overconfidence become his undoing." The blind Protoss turned to the source of voice, who asked. "What is your name, votary?"

"Zarc, milord!" He could only see a tall, black figure before him and his red eyes glowed bright.

"My name is Alarak, The Second Ascendant!" The tall warrior said with amusement. "You would tookTharek's place to be the Fourth Ascendant. Serve me, so you could grew higher to the Ascension and to service of Amon!" Flushed with pride and relief, Zarc bowed to his benefactor.

"I will serve you, Master Alarak!"

=o00o=

Back to the Science Vessel

After the gruelling fight through the vessels, Zarc and Stukov's force pushed into Niadra's lair. There they found out the Broodmother had prepared to face them.

"Alakur nir shozak! You dare to oppose us?" The Tal'Darim shouted to the entire brood.

In other hand, Stukov sticked to his mission and called.

"Broodmother Niadra, surrender to us and we will spare your brood. Protoss Executor had promised to return you safely to Queen Zagara…"

Niadra responded with mocking tone. "I don't know your 'queen' Zagara, nor I will surrender to you. I only serve Queen Kerrigan! If I couldn't land to Aiur, I would drag all of you with me!" Then she pressed the nearby panel, slowly but sure the entire vessel shook violently.

"What have you done?" the Infested Terran asked in horror.

"I turned off the gravitational field in this vessel, and allowing Aiur's gravity to pull us like a meteor." The Broodmother said. "At least, that's what I learned from your technology." Zarc quickly called the former vice admiral.

"Terran, forget the talking! We have to defeat her, before the Golden Armada purify this vessel along with us inside." Stukov sighed; he didn't expect this would gone worse.

He said. "The end is at hand! If you don't want to surrender, then I have to break you!"

"Try it, Terran!" The Broodmother taunted. Instantly, her brood charged toward the forces. The praetor turned his warriors and shouted.

"Na aran korikas! Prepare to fight with your fury and honor, warriors!"

Gherizm replied. "Alakor de zhakan!"

E'klar followed. "Khassar de templari! Justice be done!"

Xqtl added. "For Selendis! To glorious battle!" Then the sentinels, centurions and remaining zealots shouted aloud as they charged the enemy.

"For Fenix! For Vorazun! Na adan Daelaam!"

Stukov didn't want to waste time as he gave a single order to Kubrickan and his fellow Infested Marines.

"Strike swiftly!"

In response, Kubrickan and his fellows said simultaneously. "Your command!" Their zerglings screeched to their foes. All-out battle was started inside the vessel.

=o00o=

Outside the vessel

Selendis watched the vessel shook, before slowly moved toward Aiur.

She asked. "What happened?"

The nearby zealot answered. "The vessel suddenly turned off their gravitational field, allowing Aiur's to pull them down, Executor!"

The Protoss Executor immediately realized the implications. "Prepare the fleet, we should purify the vessel before it hit Aiur! How many cycles remains?"

The answer came. "Only sixty cycles more, Executor!"

"Contact Praetor Zarc once again! If he still alive inside, he would stop the vessel from going down!" Selendis ordered. "If no response afterward, we are going as I ordered!"

"Yes, Executor!"

=o00o=

Inside the vessel

The battle raged furiously, as the time was running out. The protoss warriors were on the standstill . They fought waves by waves of Raptor zerglings, hydralisks and roaches. The Aiur zealots fought bravely, even unleashing their Whirlwind attacks. Yet, they were unable to break the Zerg's attack. If not by the centurion's Dark Coil and Shadow Charge, also the sentinel, they could be decimated. Xqtl blasted a Zergling away with his glaive cannon, and scanned the surrounding. Their situation was grim. Had they brought Stalkers, this could be remedied. He glanced to his fellow warriors. Gherizm struggled viciously as the Zera'tai warrior would, but there was no end in the Zerg. In other hand, his praetor had summoned the Psionic Orb to wipe a large chunk of Niadra's brood. Exhaustion was obivious at the Tal'Darim's posture. He was unable to maintain psionic power.

Meanwhile, their Zerg 'ally' weren't fared better. The Infested Marine's rank were depleted faster than their foes. Due to the limited magazines, Stukov were forced to sent his Infested who had ran out bullets as the live bombers. Sure, their kamikaze run had took off a large number of Niadra's brood, but left them with no attackers. The Russian glanced toward Kubrickan who stil fought. He loathed the thought that he would lose the only connection to his humanity. No, he had forgotten UED and vice versa, but he would not give up to the Zerg 's instinct inside him. Stukov held the zerglings around, at least not until the right moment. The only regret he had was that he had not brought the Aberrations with him.

Then a Hunter Killer variant hydralisk appeared from nowhere and charged toward Zarc. The Tal'Darim swung his bane blade to cut the creature apart, however his foe managed to shoot spikes toward him. Those spikes hit their target squarely, even knocked the visor from Zarc's face. The large protoss rolled to the ground, as the pack of Raptors charged toward him.

"Protect Praetor!" E'klar shouted. He charged toward those pack with the remaining Zealots. Gherizm and Xqtl quickly pulled Zarc away from danger to the safety. Yet, the Tal'Darim brushed them brusquely.

"Let me off! You dishonor me by pulled me out!" The Purifier adept replied.

"You are our praetor, and you should not welcome death recklessly!"

Furious, Zarc rose and stared the cybernetic templar. "What do you know about honor, robot?"

"I was a warrior like you before, praetor! As you said before, we have the mission from Executor Selendis! In this time, honor is more than blind recklessness. The vessel would hit Aiur in hours!" Zarc stunned, and instinctively took a vial of Terrazine, but there was none. Then the Dark Templar spoke.

"I will go back to the line to help E'klar." He glanced to Xqtl. "Guard our praetor until he fit to fight with us." Then his feature faded from the sight, as he charged to the battle line, shouting "I am the blade of Aiur!"

=o00o=

Stukov gritted his teeth in anger, as their line was thinned. Only Kubrickan and few Infested Terran were remained with him. Now it was the right time to unleash them!

Attack and multiply! He commanded the zerglings around him telepathically. The beasts roared as their bodies shook violently and splitted into two more zerglings. They quickly swarmed their Raptor counterparts and the hydralisks. However, Stukov's relief was short-timed as the Broodmother entered the fray. Niadra quickly trashed the swarmlings like nothings. She would come to them within the moment. At the same time, Kubrickan's rifle has ran out of ammo. He glanced to his commander. Instantly, the remaining human instinct understood their problem. With that, the Infested had made his first and last decision as a human.

"Commander!" He called Stukov. "It…was…an honor to serve you, though in this unfortunate condition and situation! Earth might not remember us anymore, but we…were once humans! I will be die as a human too!" The Infested took stance and ran toward the charging Broodmother.

"No! Stop, Kubrickan!" The infested commander shouted. "I order you!" His order came to the deaf ear. The former sergeant shouted aloud, as he collided with the nearest hydralisk.

"For the Swarm!" The violent explosion shook the entire bridge. Stukov fell on his knee, he didn't sense Kubrickan anymore. Yet, a huge silhouette stirred from the conflagration.

=o00o=

Gherizm slashed his warp scythe, sending away his attackers. He strove forward to help the overwhelmed E'klar. Once arrived, the young Templar's countenance fell. He was too late, as he saw the fallen Aiur zealot gave away his ghost to the Khala. Surrounded, the warrior tried to open his way but the zergling and roaches swarmed him. No way out.

=o00o=

Zarc could sense everyone's distress, including the Infested Terran's. He won't die in this place by the beast. He was a Daelaam warrior, importantly he was a Tal'Darim Ascendant. He was born for this moment and he won't die until he would prove his point to his Highlord.

"Xqtl!" He turned to the Adept. "Order your Sentinels here and ask the centurions to hold the line."

"What will praetor do?" The Purifier inquired.

The protoss barked. "This is an order! I am your praetor!" Unable to argue, the cybernetic protoss gestured several Sentinels to come here. They immediately obeyed and stood before Zarc.

He said. "I need your power now!" After saying that, the reddish glow appeared from his body and instantly washed the Sentinels. One by one,they went down to the floor. Zarc felt rejuvenated and importantly, powerful than before.

Xqtl turned to his praetor. "Praetor, what have you done?"

"I just use Sacrifice ability to sap the sentinel's energy in order to replenish my power!" Zarc explained. "Be thankful that I don't use it to the centurions! Your body could self-repair and you will be back to the battleground in no time. Also, I have another order to you…" The Adept merely stared to his praetor's eyes. He wondered whether he had to trust this Tal'Darim or not.

=o00o=

Niadra lifted herself out from the conflagration, she didn't expected the Infested's sacrifice. Luckily, her own children also had the same notion. Now the Infested Terran was powerless. Few roaches and swarmlings wouldn't stop her. She went toward the prostrated Stukov

"As I told you before." She said mockingly. "I will be your death, and you will be the first before the black Protoss." Slowly, but sure, the Russian lifted his face and spoke.

"You are making a huge mistake, Broodmother…" he hissed slowly, as his eyes glowed brighter. "My lieutenant had sacrificed his life for this mission, so he could have meaning to live…and you had wasted his effort. I will not waste this!" Then Niadra felt a chilling sensation as she watched the Infested rose. Somehow she sensed his psionic power was…skyrocketing .

Impossible! She commented inwardly. Fueled with anger, Stukov slowly levitated and said coldly.

"I had killed a Xel'Naga before. Then why should a little Broodmother pose the challenge for me? This is your time to hit the dust, Niadra!"With that, he unleashed a powerful psionic shockwave toward the Broodmother. Her frame shook violently upon the psionic attack. She gathered her strength to resist the shockwave

"I was chosen by Queen Kerrigan herself!" she screamed. "You, filthy Terran won't stop me…" Another voice had joined.

"Mind Blast!" Another powerful shockwave hit Niadra squarely. She felt his mind and body was ripped apart. Glancing to the attacker's direction, she saw the black-armored protoss. Then Zarc and Stukov increased the attack, forcing the Broodmother to yield her ground. Despite her persistence, she was unable to withstood the double psionic attack from them.

"NOOOO!" She was blasted away and hit the navigation monitor very hard, before fell crumpled to the floor. Then Stukov fell to the ground, while his protoss ally stared him intently.

=o00o=

In other side, Niadra's brood was unaware of their mother's condition, as they still tearing Gherizm apart. The young Zera'tai felt that he would joined the Void until a sagely voice spoke inside his mind.

We never trully alone…we are the Dark Templar! We are born to endure, and we shall endure with honor! Darkness is our ally, shadow is our friend!Rise and become one of us…Dark Templar!

Those words instantly energized him, and he gathered his final strength to push. Slowly but sure, he broke the suffocating crowd of zerglings and roaches. Faster than anyone could see, his warp scythe carved the way out through the flesh of his enemies. He wouldn't rest until the last zergling was dead. Gherizm opened his…only eye, and saw the mutilated body of zerglings and roaches around him. He prevailed over the odds, despite losing his left eye. He had done the Shadow Walk ritual as the other Dark Templar before him. Then his centurion comrades joined him.

The centurion said "Templar, Praetor Zarc and infested Terran has subdued the Broodmother!"

"What about the vessel?"

=o00o=

While the other was distracted, Xqtl instantly transported toward the control panel. Without wasting his time, he quickly accessed the vessel computer and turned the gravitational field on again. Then the vessel's descent was slowed and came to a halt before entering Aiur's atmosphere. The Purifier also detected the incoming transmission from the Golden Armada and quickly made contact with them.

=o00o=

Zarc went toward the weakened Broodmother. He felt his Tal'Darim instinct returned.

The strong live, the weak die! He ignited his bane blade as he came to Niadra. This beast had made his effort painful, and she would pay him thousandfold.

"Whatever you think, I would suggest you don't do it!" Stukov reminded. "We have an agreement here!"

Annoyed, the former Ascendant said. "So much from an Infested who had defeated Narud…" For a moment, they stared and matched each other before deciding the decisive strike until Xqtl called.

"Praetor, I had done your order to turn on the gravitational field. Also, Executor Selendis had ordered us to leave the Broodmother to the Swarm. We would take the vessel for further investigation." The Tal'Darim glanced again to his rival before he said.

"Take your kind and leave! I hope we won't cross paths again."

Stukov replied. "The feeling is mutual, Praetor. Thank you for your cooperation, I will inform Queen Zagara of this." Zarc merely nodded as he gathered his surviving warriors. Nudging to the Vile roaches, the Infested ordered them to bind Niadra before they warped back to the Kubrickan was bad, but he wouldn't despaired. He would find someone like him again someday. Pulling a cigar from his pocket, the former UED vice admiral mused.

"Some days I miss vodka like today, for example." He lit his cigar when they were warped back to the Leviathan. Then the cigar was off

"Oh, crap!" The Zerg was vanished from the sight. Outside, the Golden Armada closed to the vessel and would teleport the warriors out before the purification team came inside. The Leviathan flew back to the Char system, bringing the wayward Broodmother.

=o00o=

Few months later,

Dylar IV, where the Dylarian Shipyard were nearby. The planet was suffered during the End War, yet the stout-hearted Alliance stood to protect the planet. They were composed of the Terrans, Protoss and mutates. Even, after Valerian became Emperor of the Terran Dominion, they weren't relinquished their responsibility so easily. Today, they have an uninvited guest. The heavily-cloaked figure entered their base, ignoring the sentries' warning. Instantly, the people inside the base blocked him. The nearest person asked him.

"You are trespassing here, show your identification!" As a response, the figure pulled down his cloak and showed his left-sided mutated face and extra appendages. The crowd hushed to silence and some of them growled, because they recognized the uninivited guest.

"Is this the Alliance base?" Alexei Stukov asked. As a response, guns locked toward him. Then the top-knot with braid woman went closer with a blaster toward the Infested.

"You are the Swarm's agent!" she hissed. "Your kind are not welcome here!"

"Are you a mutate?" The Infested asked. The woman hissed and almost pulled the trigger if the middle-aged man came and stopped. He had several insignia and rank. The female mutate obeyed without questioning.

"Perhaps, we should listen what he want from us." He said. "Am I right, vice admiral Stukov?"

"Hmm, not so bad. You know me well." the Russian commented. "I am coming here not as your enemy, but only for information and cooperation."

The middle-aged man asked. "About what? We don't deal with the Swarm."

"Of course not, you are dealing with me." Stukov replied. "I want to know about the vaccine for those who had been infested with Zerg ." The crowd stunned to hear, as he continued.

"And I am waiting…"

=o00o=

In Char Aleph, the homeworld of the Zerg Swarm

Zagara stared down the beaten Niadra before her. The Broodmother initially had refused to accept her as her Queen, despite the explanation that Kerrigan had appointed her to be her successor. So she had to brutalized her until her resolve was shaken. Her queen also did the same to her, and she had learned it well. Then Izsha said.

"Perhaps, she was ready to accept you now."

The Zerg queen said. "We shall see…" She went closer and lifted Niadra's face toward her.

"Well, what is your decision now?" The rogue Broodmother looked weakly and said.

"You are the strongest after our Queen, indeed." She continued. "Therefore, I, Niadra humbly recognized you as the Queen of the Swarm…and I was your servant."

Zagara nodded in satisfaction. "Good! I accept your servitude…before you could return to your brood, I want you to see Abathur first." Her pedipalps clicked in amusement. "He would give you some…improvement, so you could serve the Swarm better."

"If my queen wishes so, I will obey." Niadra bowed before left her queen and 'adjutant' alone. Izsha commented.

"Her knowledge about Protoss and their technology would be a good asset."

Zagara interjected. "Yes, while Stukov proven that he was a good tool, despite the closedness of his mind."She thought for a while, before said. "Have you seen Dehaka?"

The serpentine creature shook her head. "No, my queen! I haven't see the Primal since the End War. Beside, he could come and go as long as there was essence to follow."

Zagara didn't like that implication. "Then where is he now?"

=o00o=

At the same time, on the fringe worlds

The hulking creature watched the verdant field before him, especially the Terran Science compound nearby. Its eyes blinked simultaneously, as he talked.

"Follow essence here. Must collect, must gather them."

=o00o=

A/N: This chapter concluded the Extraction arc and the beginning of the new arc. Familiar characters will be seen with a new one in the next story. Thank you for reading my story.